by Do you know which is most popular chess openining played by the gr&masters in FIDE world championships? There might be different opinions, however, the queen’s gambit & the Ruy lopez get the most votes as white. while the Nimzo-Indian & Morphy defence are played the most as black.
In today’s context, lets look at this game which changed the enire course of FIDE World Chess Championship played between Ding Liren (2788) and Nepomniachtchi Ian (2795), WCH RAPID TB 2023 ASTANA KAZ 30.04.2023.
The most popular chess opening played by White in FIDE World Championships is the Queen’s Gambit. The Queen’s Gambit is a chess opening which starts with the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4, where the White side offers a pawn to Black in exchange for control of the center of the board. This opening is always a favorite choice among top players for many years due to its solid & strategic nature.
This opening got a larger audience when Netflix aired the miniseries “The Queen’s Gambit,” (2020). This series revived interest in the opening & its various lines, making it even more prevalent in high-level competitions, off course with a storyline added to it.
The Queen’s Gambit is one of the most popular & strategically rich openings in chess. Some strong reasons why it is considered special by the legends:
Power to control the Centre: By offering a pawn with 2.c4, White aims to establish control over the central squares d4 & e5. This helps in gaining a strong influence in the center of the board, which is crucial for launching attacks & executing tactical plans.
Development & piece activity: The Queen’s Gambit allows for harmonious piece development. Provides an opportunity for White’s pieces, especially the queen & bishop, to be developed actively & efficiently. This contributes to a quicker development of the pieces & facilitates early piece coordination.
Strategic flexibility: The Queen’s Gambit offers various possibilities for both players, allowing for different pawn structures & positional ideas. Players can choose from different setups, such as the Classical Variation, Tartakower Variation, or the more aggressive lines like the Accepted or Declined Queen’s Gambit. This flexibility allows players to tailor their approach based on their style & the specific game situation.
Solidity & stability: The Queen’s Gambit generally leads to solid & strategically sound positions. It provides a solid foundation for building an advantageous position with well-coordinated pieces, strong pawn structure, & good king safety. This makes it a reliable choice for players seeking stability & long-term planning.
Rich historical & cultural significance: The Queen’s Gambit has a long history & has been played by many world champions & top-level players. It has been extensively studied & analyzed, leading to a vast amount of theory & well-established strategic principles. Added more popularity throught the popular Netflix series with the same name.
Despite being so popular, the Queen’s Gambit is not without its challenges & potential issues. A few aspects that some players may consider as a drawback/not the best option or an area of caution:
Gambit acceptance: If Black side accepts the gambit by capturing the pawn on c4 (1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4), they gain a central pawn but also potentially expose themselves to White’s active piece development & potential attacks. Skilled players can navigate the complexities & seek to equalize or maintain an advantage, making it a double-edged situation for both players.
Pawn structure complexities: The Queen’s Gambit can lead to various pawn structures that require careful h&ling & understanding. The isolated queen’s pawn (IQP) structure, which can arise from the Declined Queen’s Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bg5), requires accurate piece coordination & dynamic play to compensate for the potential weaknesses & tactical vulnerabilities.
Reduced central control: In some variations of the Queen’s Gambit, particularly when Black declines the gambit, White’s central control can be temporarily reduced. Black may establish a solid presence in the center, making it challenging for White to assert immediate dominance. This calls for nuanced positional understanding & patient maneuvering.
Memorization & theory: The Queen’s Gambit has been extensively studied, resulting in a vast amount of theory & variations. Keeping up with the latest developments & memorizing lines can be dem&ing & time-consuming. The high level of theoretical knowledge required may discourage players who prefer more intuitive or creative approaches to the game.
Alternative responses: Through observations, advantages such as centre control the Queen’s Gambit is so popular, however, it’s not the only viable option for White. Black has various responses at their disposal, such as the Nimzo-Indian Defense, King’s Indian Defense, or the Gruenfeld Defense, which offer different pawn structures & strategic ideas. Serious players need to be prepared for alternatives, surprises & be flexible in their approach.
New age chess grandmasters have explored numerous moves & strategies against it, & opinions may vary on the “best” move. However, here are a few commonly recommended moves against the Queen’s Gambit:
Queen’s Gambit Declined: The Queen’s Gambit Declined (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6) is a solid & popular choice for Black. By declining the gambit, Black side aims to solidify their position & establish a strong pawn structure. This move allows Black to control the center & develop their pieces harmoniously.
Nimzo-Indian Defense: The Nimzo-Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4) is a highly strategic & flexible response against the Queen’s Gambit. It aims to limit White’s central control while developing the pieces actively. This move can lead to dynamic & complex positions, providing ample opportunities for counterplay.
Gruenfeld Defense: The Gruenfeld Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5) is an aggressive & tactical response against the Queen’s Gambit. By allowing the central pawn tension, Black aims to undermine White’s control & launch counterattacks. It often leads to sharp, double-edged positions where accurate calculation is crucial.
Slav Defense: The Slav Defense (1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6) is a solid & resilient response that focuses on maintaining a strong pawn structure. It aims to control the center while preparing to challenge White’s central pawns in the future. The Slav Defense offers good chances for counterplay & strategic maneuvering.
Several known players have played the Queen’s Gambit in the history of the FIDE World Chess Championship:
Wilhelm Steinitz: Steinitz, the first recognized World Chess Champion, employed the Queen’s Gambit in his matches during the late 19th century. He played it against Johannes Zukertort in the 1886 World Chess Championship.
Emanuel Lasker: Lasker, one of the longest-reigning World Chess Champions, also utilized the Queen’s Gambit in his matches. He played it against Carl Schlechter in the 1910 World Chess Championship.
Anatoly Karpov: Karpov, a former World Chess Champion, frequently employed the Queen’s Gambit in his matches. He played it in multiple World Championship matches against Viktor Korchnoi & Garry Kasparov.
Garry Kasparov: Kasparov, one of the greatest chess players in history, also played the Queen’s Gambit in his World Championship matches. He employed it in his matches against Anatoly Karpov & Viswanathan Anand.
Viswanathan Anand: Anand, a former World Chess Champion, has also utilized the Queen’s Gambit in his World Championship matches. He played it against Vladimir Kramnik & Boris Gelfand.
Vladimir Kramnik: Kramnik, a former World Chess Champion, has also utilized the Queen’s Gambit in his World Championship matches. He played it in his matches against Garry Kasparov & Viswanathan Anand.
Experience the Queens gambit played in FIDE world championship finals:
Here’s an example of a game between Viswanathan Anand & Vladimir Kramnik from the 2008 World Chess Championship held in Bonn, Germany:
This game was played in the 11th round of the 2008 World Chess Championship & resulted in a victory for Viswanathan Anand
A game between Viswanathan Anand & Boris Gelfand from the 2012 World Chess Championship held in Moscow, Russia:
This game was played in the 8th round of the 2012 World Chess Championship & ended in a draw between Viswanathan Anand (White) & Boris Gelfand (Black).
